Ondo Judiciary sacks over 190

Hakeem Gbadamosi – Akure

No fewer than 190 magistrates and senior registrars in the employment of the Ondo State judiciary have either been relieved of their appointments or suspended from service over what was termed “irregular appointments”.

Tribune Online gathered that at least 70 magistrates and senior registrars have received their letter of suspension or termination of appointments last Friday while others would be issued their letters within the week.

Most of the affected by the purge in the state judiciary included the Magistrates and Senior Registrars employed by the State Judicial Service Commission (JSC) between 2011 and 2016.

The Chief Judge of the state by the act setting up the State JSC is the Chairman. Justices Olaseinde Kumuyi (rtd) and Temitayo Osoba were the Chief Judges when the perceived “irregular appointments” were made.

In a copy of the letter dated September 13 and made available to Tribune Online, and was signed by the Secretary of the JSC, IIEF, ZD Egbunu, the letter of suspension read that “due to perceived irregularities and lack of due process in your appointment as a Senior Registrar (functioning as a Staff Attorney) in the Ondo State Judiciary within the Judicial Service of the State the Honourable Acting Chief Judge/Chairman of Judicial Service Commission has directed your immediate suspension from the Judicial Service pending plenary consideration and review of the propriety of your appointment process.

“Meanwhile, you are to handover any government property in your possession to the Chief Registrar please.”

Speaking on the development, the Chairman of the Akure Chapter of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Tunji Oso, said since the JSC which employed the sacked magistrates and senior registrars declared the appointment irregular, the association would wade into it and see what made the appointments irregular.

Oso said the list of the affected judicial officers was being complied for the necessary interface with the relevant government officials, though he acknowledged that JSC which employed the staff could sack them but however said the laid down procedure must be followed.